I was walking along the path to the training ground, nothing really just being me as always. I'm not a ninja, but I like watching people train. But training is not the reason why I was going there. I'm going there to meet with a friend. I paused and looked up, a smile spread across my face,

"You follow me still" I said as a white raven flew by me. it's wings slightly brushing against my cheek. The wind going through my hair made me feel safe. The raven finally landed in front of me, I gave it a smiled. Its dark black eye's looked at me with deep concern.

"White Raven... Are you just a dream?" I practically asked, hoping it would give a reply for some odd reason.

The white raven just looked at me with its mysterious black eye's, saying nothing more or saying nothing less. It just sat there giving me the same look as I stood there giving it my same emotionless expression. It took me awhile to realize that it wouldn't reply to me. I let out a large sigh, I looked at it, still waiting for an answer. I then gave up and sat next to it and started to pet it.

"Or are you just the spirit of my friend..." I stated solemnly.

As if finally ready to speak, a kunai knife flew right past my face. I quickly stood up and looked in the direction from which the knife had came from and prepared myself to fight. Although I had no idea how to fight in anyway, so all I would be would be a hopeless wreck. Yet something in my mind told me I have to protect this bird, I know I have too, or otherwise, I'd regret it later on in life.

I growled lowly as a figure started to come out of the bushes. The beautiful white raven just sat there as if nothing were going on, I know I had to protect it for sure.

"So there it is. The rare, white raven, and now it will be mine..." said a man who was a bit over weight but could tell he was strong.

"You won't touch it" I said with a low growl, trying to sound tough and strong.

"Really now, okay little one, I'll make a deal with you. How about you move out of the way and let me take the Raven and I spare your life." he said practically threatening me.

"Sadly you're going to have to kill me to get to the Raven" I said to him bitterly

The man didn't seem to look patient, but he gave out a sigh and took a step back. I didn't let my guard down, and I stood in the same stance, but became a little stiffer. The man put up his hands and chuckled. I continued to glare at him disgusts to whatever he was planning.

"Look kid I don't really feel like killing you, so I'll do ya favor... I'll beat you 'til you're knocked out." He simply said with a short chuckle.

He then walked over and started to punch me. His punches were hard and I could tell he was holding back. Yet I just stood there waiting for him to do more then what he was doing. Finally he kneed my gut, thankfully I was exhaling rather than inhaling otherwise that would have hurt badly. It seemed to continue on for what seem as if it were hours were it could have only been mere minutes. I could tell the man was starting to become tired and he was growing impatient by the way he had been punching and kicking me for while now. When he finally took a short pause I took a look back to see the white raven still there watching me.

I won't give up... I'll stay up and make sure your protected... I promise" I said to the raven with a smile.

I was then elbowed into my ribs, I started to cough and I took a few steps back. There was then a hit to the back of my head but I stood my ground. "DAMMIT! PASS OUT ALREADY!" He yelled as he threw more of his punches. I still stood there; I was shocked at how I was able to stand there still, even if this guy was beating me to a pulp. This time I could tell he wasn't holding back any longer, he started to use full force in his punches and kicks and not even stopping to take a breather.

I finally couldn't take it; my blood was running down my mouth, my whole face swollen. The pain was unbearable and it could only have been a matter of fifteen minutes. It felt as if it were forever to me. My vision blurred and the man was about to land a few more punches on me. I couldn't bear to face defeat, but as I feared I was going to fail.

"Okay now brat, it seems that you have stood here long enough, now its time for you to rest!" The man said as he brought his arm back, I could feel myself falling back from the pushing wind from his fist, I thought it was over. I felt a slight heavy push on my left cheek, I opened my eyes to see the man gone I looked back to see a green figure blocking the way of the white raven. I jerked away from my spot and sprinted away from the green figure to check if the white raven was still around. I couldn't see much, but I saw a white blur and I jumped toward it and grabbed what I hoped was the white raven. I didn't fall to the ground as I thought I would, but was held by someone, I wasn't sure who but they worked out a lot.

I was awake, or thought I was, my eyes were closed since my face was real swollen, but the person who had carried me seemed gentle. The person must do a lot of work I could feel the bandages and calluses on their fingers. I heard a slight mumble, not sure if it was towards me, but I tried to answer anyways. Although I was too hurt to even work a muscle in my body. I then felt a cool breeze, I tried to open my eyes to see what was going on, but it failed. Before I knew it the breeze had stopped and I was set on to a bed or a table, to be honest I wasn't sure.

I opened my eyes, and blinked a few times I must have blacked out, though I wasn't sure what had happened now, my body felt fine I didn't feel hurt or anything. I laid there awake for what seemed for many hours until I realized the white raven was not in my arms. I sat up instantly and looked around the room. A boy had walked into the room with two daisies, he had a bowl hair cut and was wearing a green jumpsuit, but what really caught my eye were his eye brows. He looked at me shocked, as well as two other ladies in the room to see me up.

"Where's the Raven!" I greeted with my demand.

The blond lady sighed and put her hand on her forehead.

"The raven is fine, it had left when I had picked you up." said the boy in the green jumpsuit. I looked at him in puzzlement, and then I realized that he was the one who had carried me to the infirmary.

"The Raven is okay..." Was all I was able to say for the moment.

"Please Miss, you should lie back down, you have just recovered," said the panicky lady who had short dark hair. I gave her a disdainful glace, and looked around the room, wondering where I could be.

"Am I in the infirmary?" I asked.

The boy in the jump suit nodded, "Lady Shizune is right, you must get your rest..." he said.

I shook my head, "but I'm fine" I replied as I hopped out of the bed. There was then a push to my forehead and I was back in bed. I looked up to see that the blond lady hovering over me. She gave me a poisonous glare as she flicked my forehead.

Shizune gasped, "Lady Tsunade!" she exclaimed, and even the jump suit boy gasped.

"What do you think you're doing getting up like that, only worried about a raven what about you! Do you not know! You were only so close to dying from the loss of blood!

"Was what Lady Tsunade had lectured to me.

I could only shrug.

She then stopped glaring at me and sighed, "you're lucky that Lee here came along and rushed you here as fast as he could..." She said pointing to the green jump suit boy.

"Hai!" was his reply.

I only looked down. There wasn't much to say since I didn't want to talk back to my elders, and so I just sucked it up. "I am sorry Lady Hokage... I was just...just..." I couldn't think of a word. I looked down to try to think of words, but I was interrupted by a pat on my head.

"It's okay... I understand...You don't need to be sorry..." She said. I looked up at her, she was smiling at me. "Garnet... Please understand... Your life is what matters now... After what had happened to your clan... You can't put yourself in danger all the time just because of that damn white raven" Tsunade said in a concerned tone. She not only acted like my mother, but as my older sister also. Well, technically, if I were too look at her in any relative way she would be a grandmother. She always likes to make sure that I'm safe because of what had happened to my clan.

Tsunade looked over at Lee, "Lee!" she said.

Lee looked at her and saluted, "Hai!" he replied, he seemed similar to a soldier, ready to take orders and go out in to battle.

"You have a mission..." She said. Lee stopped saluting her and gave a serious face, he nodded. "Your mission is to protect Kraehe-Chan, but you may continue your other missions, trainings and etc. You must make sure she is out of harm's way... You'll also receive more pay." Tsunade said. Shizune had a surprised look.

Lee put his hand up and shook his head, "Lady Hokage... I will protect Kraehe-Chan... But there is no need to pay me..." Lee replied. Shizune's panicky face had relaxed, knowing Lee wasn't going to except pay.

"Very well then... you and she may be dismissed" Tsunade smirked. Shizune looked more panicked after Tsunade's last request. Lee nodded as he walked over and picked me up. I just blinked,

"I get to go home?" I asked. Tsunade nodded,

"Come on Kraehe-Chan."Lee commanded as we walked out of the room. I just blinked at Lee examining him.

"Hmm..." I thought.

"Where do you live?" he asked

I shrugged a little getting distracted from my examination, "I'll just give you directions as we walk... and, thanks, but I can walk..." I said as I hopped down from Lee's arms. I turned around and looked up at him. There was a rather large height difference. The top of my head only reached the middle of his chest. He smiled down at me.

"Well then if you think you can walk then show the way," he said as he waited for me to walk ahead.

And so I did.